Lizard Range Glory

Rowls and I poked into a new (to us) area known as Tunnel Creek, just south of Fernie for some skiing during the Christmas/New Year break.

Leaving from the car it is a pretty stiff climb up a logging road where you gain close to 1,000 meters of vertical over about 5 km, before popping out in an alpine valley with beautiful tree runs all around and a sweet little cabin for overnighting and lunch time warming.



December 30 was a bit of a rough start after an extravagant 'Scando Christmas Dinner' at 232 with Jeanna and Arielle the night before. By the time we drove down to Fernie from Calgary and got up the cabin it was already mid afternoon and by the time we got to the ridge, we opted for just one run back out to the highway. A great exploratory trip into a new area with the pleasurable notion that we would be back here tomorrow!

December 31, 2015 we reveled in blue-bird conditions as we steadily made our way up the mountain and were treated to the type of views that produce a physical euphoria reaction and make you realize that you were put on the planet to do exactly what you are doing in that moment. We set our own uptrack though the untouched snow that had been falling steadily over the past week. As we worked our way around the south facing slope of Planetary Peak we noticed that despite the cold temperature (~-15C), there was a definite solar effect on the top cm of snow and the light unconsolidated fluff was getting a bit heavier. Armed with this observation we skied a less sun-exposed aspect, and hit up the ridge for another lap. On the second time around, we observed a stiff crust of 1-2cm had already formed where the solar impact had frozen later in the day. Interesting for next we are in there...
































One fabulous experience we had while on the uptrack was disturbing a family of Northern Flying Squirrels, which alighted from a tree right next to Rowley's head and glided gracefully down an open slope of snow and were consumed by the branches of a tree lower down the slope. Just one of those amazing things that happen when you are wandering in the wilderness, and are going slow enough to notice the details.

Upon reaching the summit for the last time, we were treated to a truly awe-inspiring view of the entire valley filled with low cloud, and sparkling blue sky above, with clear visibility all the way down to Montana. A more spectacular New Years Eve display than all the fireworks in the world combined!



We skied some beautiful lines down to the cabin (unfortunately a little tracked up already) and hit the luge track back to the highway.

Here's to 2016!